*****ALL NEW AND RETURNING STUDENTS ARE REQUIRED TO SUBMIT AN AUDITION FOR THE 2026-27 YEAR. *****

For returning CYO students this will function more as a seating audition if you are wanting to stay in the same orchestra.

Accepting late auditions until Sept. 5th

** CYO supports and loves music programs in the public schools. All CYO students are highly encouraged to participate in and support their school orchestra programs.

Audition Requirements for Cache Youth Orchestras‍

PLEASE FILL OUT THIS REGISTRATION FORM‍ ‍TO SUBMIT YOUR AUDITION VIDEO.

See the links below for Information about what to prepare for auditions for each orchestra

Strings: violin, viola, cello and bass (Da Capo, Crescendo and Philharmonic Orchestras)

Woodwinds, brass, percussion (Philharmonic only)

STRINGS:

To be considered for DA CAPO Orchestra (advanced-beginner):

  • Violins must be at a Suzuki Book 2+ skill level, Violas at a late Book 1+ skill level, which means:

    • Balanced, flexible bow-hand set-up and instrument/body posture

    • Good sense of ringing tone production and straight bows

    • Solid developing intonation in 1st position

    • Starting to shift to 3rd position

    • Basic sense of rhythm

    • Starting to slur and hook bowings

    • Solid articulation skills: Staccato, legato, and starting some spiccato. 

    • Starting to grasp bow distribution needs

  • Cellos and Basses must be at a end of Suzuki book 1+ skill level

    • Same as violins AND

    • Comfortable with 1st and 4th finger extensions

  • For Audition Information, Excerpts, and Recording instructions:

    https://docs.google.com/document/d/1h1hbMcA55AGlrPYPIttWgA6tlB8ulxLM5FmHU2nHQqI/edit?usp=sharing

    • ***Da Capo is a perfect next step for students who have participated in the MWSA Ambassadors program in elementary school.

To be considered for CRESCENDO Orchestra (intermediate):

  • Violins must be at a Suzuki Book 4+ skill level, Violas at Suzuki book 3+ skill level, which means:

    • Flexible and agile bow hand technique and instrument/body posture

    • Comfortable shifting 1st-5th positions

    • Solid developing intonation

    • Started on and actively developing vibrato

    • Can count and play complex and mixed meters like 6/8, 5/4. 

    • Can define and play different bowing styles (staccato, legato, martele, spiccato), and developing bow distribution skills

    • Slurring 4+ to a bow.

    • Slurring uneven groupings 1+3, 3+1.

    • Can play 3rds and 6ths in tune on all strings.

  • Cellos and Basses must be at a Suzuki Book 3+ skill level

    • Same as violins/violas AND

    • Starting thumb position

    • Developing fluency in tenor clef.

  • For audition Information, Excerpts, and recording instructions:

    https://docs.google.com/document/d/1hnjKMP8FGFtUZ0awRIodDdRFXOatAQZJ7mf80nZMm78/edit?usp=sharing

To be considered for PHILHARMONIC Orchestra (advanced):

  • Violins must be at a Suzuki Book 6+ skill level, Violas at a Suzuki Book 5+ skill level, which means:

    • Flexible and agile bow hand technique and instrument/body posture

    • Comfortable shifting to upper positions (6th pos.+)

    • Solid intonation

    • Fluid, colorful vibrato

    • Mature tone, and capable of playing with musical expression and color, with controlled bow distribution and articulation in all styles.

    • Comfortable with complex meters and rhythms

    • Can play variety of intervals, double-stops and chords in tune

    • the ability to come up with good fingerings and bowings for a piece.

  • Cellos and basses must be at a Suzuki Book 5+ skill level

    • same as violins and violas AND

    • comfortable with thumb position around the fingerboard

    • the strength and ability to play double stops in thumb position, such as 8ves, 3rds, 10ths, in tune.

    • fluency in bass, tenor, and treble clefs.

  • Bassists: Only 2 octave scales required to be considered for the Philharmonic Orchestra. 3 octave scales are optional.

  • Harps: must be at a Suzuki Book 5+ skill level

  • For audition Information, Excerpts, and recording instructions:

    https://docs.google.com/document/d/1fNdixnND6ZZldrtzrWfy9njxTkwf4c1Y10zXoIlDDog/edit?usp=sharing

Woodwinds/Brass(Philharmonic only) standards:

  • Strong breath support/control with ability to sustain and shape musical phrases

  • Consistent, characteristic tone across the full range of the instrument

  • Accurate intonation and the ability to adjust pitch within the ensemble

  • Secure control of full range (including upper and lower registers)

  • Clean and precise articulation (single, and double tonguing)

  • Strong technical facility (scales, arpeggios, passagework at a high level)

  • Ability to blend within the section and balance within the full ensemble

  • Control of dynamics from pp to ff while maintaining tone quality

  • Musical maturity: phrasing, style awareness, and expressive playing

  • Ability to independently prepare parts, including markings for breathing, articulation, and style.

  • PLEASE SUBMIT:

  1. SCALES

    • One 2-3 octave major scale of choice and One 2-3 octave minor scale of choice

  2. SOLO: One 2-minute excerpt form a solo, etude or piece of music that demonstrates your skills. You are welcome to add a second short excerpt of one minute if you feel it necessary to show a contrasting piece to highlight your playing abilities.

  3. EXCERPTS: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1S0sWa6y0nrZsOFWx4bUIJh_0EXFvRwV1?usp=drive_link

Percussion(Philharmonic only) Please submit:

  1. One 1-2 minute excerpt from a solo, etude or piece of music on an instrument of your choice that shows your skills.

  2. One 1-2 minute excerpt on a different instrument demonstrating your abilities.

  3. EXCERPTS: Choose 2 excerpts from those in this folder:

    https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1a1W77IsgR2fAb4es3dHO-3ssUMTHuD10?usp=sharing

Video Submission Hints:

  1. Before playing your scales, please announce which scales you will be paying. Before playing your solo piece, please announce the composition title, name of the composer, and what movement you will be playing (if applicable)

  2. Video framing: place the recording device so that you, your instrument, and your full range of motion are in the frame the entire time. The picture should remain stationary (no zooming, multiple cameras, panning, etc.) Please make sure that the music stand does not cover your face, instrument, or arms/hands. Remember that the conductors want to watch you play as well as hear you.

  3. Find a quiet spot at home to film. Make sure your space is as well-lit as possible, and that there is more light in front of you rather than behind you, so that you are not backlit.

  4. Woodwind and brass musicians should point their bells slightly off-center (not directly at the mic). String musicians, make sure that the face of your instrument is directed towards the device so that we can see both your left-hand and bow-arm. Remember that we want to see your full range of motion.

  5. Do a test beforehand to check sound levels. Make sure that sound is not distorted in loud passages or inaudible in soft passages. 

  6. Submit only ONE video with all audition requirements.  You can stitch separate videos together into one video before uploading to YouTube.

    Please upload your ONE cell phone video to YouTube. Copy and paste your link at the end of the Registration form.  Please verify that the link is accessible for others to view (not private), and is UNLISTED.  This is a great tutorial on how to create YouTube video: YouTube Instructions.